News

UVI Research Day to Examine Socioeconomic Woes & More

March 25, 2013

The public is invited to the University of the Virgin Islands' second annual Research Day scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, in the Sports and Fitness Center on UVI's St. Thomas campus and in the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.

This year, Research Day will showcase research on community issues such as crime, economic development, cultural development, and same-sex marriages. Research conducted by UVI faculty and staff will feature a variety of displays and experts that will participate in roundtable sessions with interested persons.

"UVI Research Day is the perfect opportunity for organizations, government, businesses, and the general public to see and understand the types of basic and sponsored research that is being conducted at UVI," said UVI Interim Vice Provost for Research and Public Service Dr. Frank Mills. "The roundtable discussions invite the community's direct participation."

Some of the topics to be presented on St Croix include: a cultural discussion of the social revolutions sparked by the works of Rev. Dr. Edward Wilmot Blyden, Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, Dr. Marva Sprauve Browne and other Virgin Islands renaissance icons; the pragmatic links between culture and development; and innovative work being carried out on male, female and bisexual papaya and their production levels. On St Thomas, health disparities researchers will discuss intimate partner relationships among African-Caribbean women in the Virgin Islands and the potential higher risk of abuse for women following natural disasters; research faculty will present findings from a junior high and high school students survey on characteristics that help to identify violent adolescent offenders and criminals; and faculty and students will engage community participants in the controversial subject of same-sex marriages and the law and the potential impact on the territory.

"Research Day provides an excellent opportunity for our entire community to hear about the latest research of our faculty, undergraduate and graduate students," said Dr. Mills. "Parents and other adults will be delighted to see the level of work in which students are engaged. The breadth of the topics speak to the competence in our academy. It is one occasion that the community will be able to recognize that UVI is indeed on its path to greatness."

Additionally, all high school teachers are invited to attend to enhance their knowledge of formal research. High school students, who may be interested in student life at UVI and student research, are also encouraged to attend.

Many of UVI's research areas will participate including, the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, Agricultural Experiment Station, Eastern Caribbean Center, Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service, Caribbean Exploratory Research Center, the College of Science and Mathematics Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Physical Sciences areas, the School of Education, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the Masters in Marine and Environmental Studies program.

A publication featuring the abstracts and authors of current UVI research will be available.

For information about UVI Research Day see this direct link or please contact Dr. Mills by e-mail at fmills@uvi.edu or by telephone at 693-1027.